Rooster Tales

Introduction 

While we were in Porto, we saw saw, all over the city, colourful rooster images.
Not of this sort....

....but of this sort:

In a handcrafts store I asked what they meant and was given the story. Thus -

Tiny Tale of a Rooster

Once upon a time a long time ago in Portugal somewhere, a man was accused of a dreadful crime. He insisted he was innocent, but to no avail. Eventually he was sentenced to execution, but he asked for one more hearing before the judge. He said, "I did not commit the crime and if I am innocent that rooster in the basket over there will crow." Immediately the rooster crowed. The judge let the man go free, and his story lived happily ever after in the hands of crafters all over the area.

We noticed that, as with all folk tales, there were variations on the story. Some embellishments as to who the man was are added to some versions. One re-telling had the rooster roasted on the table in front of the judge, and the rooster still crowed, which would definitely be more remarkable as a signifier of divine intervention for a special need.

Yes, this one came home with me.